TARAXACUM 5S"d 



Taraxacum. Taraxacum. (U. S. P.) 



Synonym. — Taraxici radix, B.P.; dandelion, E.; pissenlit, 

 dent de lion, Fr.; lowenzahn, G. 



The root of Taraxacum officinale Weber (nat. ord. Com- 

 positse), gathered in autumn. 



Habitat. — Naturalized in the United States and growing 

 commonly in waste places. Indigenous in Europe. 



Description. — Slightly conical, about 30 Cm. long, aud 1 

 or 2 Cm. thick above, crowned with several short, thickish 

 heads, somewhat branched, dark brown, longitudinally 

 wrinkled, when dry breaking with a short fracture, showing 

 a yellowish, porous central axis, surrounded by a thick, 

 white bark, containing numerous milk vessels arranged 

 in concentric circles ; inodorous ; bitter. It should be free 

 from the root of Cichorium Intybus Linne (nat. ord. Com- 

 positse), which closely resembles it, but is usually paler, and 

 has the milk-vessels in radiating lines. 



Constiticents. — 1, taraxacin, a bitter, soluble, crystalline 

 substance ; 2, inulin ; 3, taraxacerin (CgHigO); 4, resin, causing 

 the milky juice. 



/)ose.—H., § i.-ii. (30.-60.); Sh. & Sw., 3 ii.-iv. (8.-15.); D., 

 3 i.-ii. (4-8.). 



PREPARATIONS. 



Extr actum Taraxaci. Extract of Taraxacum. (U. S. & B. P.) 

 Made by bruising and expressing the juice from the fresh roots 



gathered in autumn. The juice is strained and evaporated to a pilular 



consistence. 



I>ose.— H. & C, 3 i.-iv. (4.-15.); D., gr.v.-xx. (.3-1.3.). 



Extractum Taraxaci Fluidum. Fluid Extract of Taraxacum. 

 (U. S. P.) 

 Made by maceration and percolation with diluted alcohol, and 

 evaporation so that 1 Cc. = 1 Gm. of taraxacmn. 

 Dose. — Same as taraxacum. 



Administration. — The fresh juice squeezed from the root 

 (succus, B.P.) may be given to horses ; or the official prepar- 

 ations may be used. 



